Traction device



April 8, 1930. G. w. PERKS 1,753,349

' TRACTION DEVICE Filed Feb/ 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.650/?6'5 VL P'fka BY ATTORNEYS.

April 8, 1930. G. w. PERKS 1,753,349

TRACTION DEV ICE Filed Feb. 1, 1927 2 SheetsSheet 2 I r 4 4% I V 33$ ByQ I A TTORNEYS.

I Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. BERKS, OFOHIO, ASSIGNOB TO JOHN R. GAMMETER, OF AKRON,

' OHIO TRACTION nnvrcn 'n ueauoa filed rebmar i, 1927. Serial No.165,091.

, This invention relatesto traction devices for rubber tired vehiclewheels. 1

The general purpose of the invention is to 7 provide an improvedtraction device-capable of preventing skidding on wet, muddy, snow- Icovered and particularly icy roads or streets. The inventioncontemplates a traction chain adapted to be mounted about a vehicle tireand including spaced, circumferential,

1o flexible elements or chains connected by flexible, resilient,transverse members of comparatively high tensile strength sliflicient toeffectively withstand the driving vforces reacting thereon as thevehicle isv being driven and hav v ing thereon cleats of long-wearingmetal adapted to cut into slippery roads or pavements to preventskidding.

More particularly, the invention is directed to'an im rovement in aknown type of a0 traction devlce including spaced, circumferentialchains and transverse straps of rubber and fabric which are capable oflong wear under the driving stresses acting thereon, said improvementbeingthe provision of cleats secured upon the rubber straps, thesecleats preferably being of a wear-resisting metalsuch as pressed steel.v

A further object of the invention is the provision of cleats adapted tobe removably secured on the transverse straps so as to be capable ofreplacement whenwor'n out.

The foregoing and other objects of the in- I vention are attained by theconstructions il-- lustrated in the accompanying drawingsand 5 describedbelow. It is to e understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular forms thereof shown anddescribed. T Of the accompanyingdrawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion'of a vehicle wheel having theimproved traction device mounted thereon Figure 2 is a plan of onetransverse traction element;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the element on atire in section; Figure 4 is a'plan (if another form of tractionelement; 4 1 Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 ofFigure 5o 4 showing theelement on a tire in section;

- the element-J Figure 6 is a plan of a third form of tracti'on element;

Figure 7 is a section on li'11"7-'7 of Figure 6 showing the element on atire in section;

Figure 8 is a reduced plan of a fourth form of the invention; and

Figure 9 is a section on line .99 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a vehicle wheelhaving a tire 11 thereon about which is mounted a tract-ion deviceincluding side chains, such as indicated at 12, and transverse tractionelements of rubber-and fabric'13, 13 conhected thereto by hook members14, 14.. The elements 13 are "preferably in the form of Greek crosses,are flexible and resilient and capable of withstanding severe tensilestresses." These elements may or may not be formed with nonskidprojections such as shown at 13, 13 (Figures 8 and 9). I

In the form of the invention shown in Figures .1 to 3, metal cleats 16are shown, each including a backing plate 17, flanges 18, 18 of V-shapeform fitting against the forward and rear edges between the arms ofthetransverse elements, and lugs 19,19 of rounded wedge shape projectingfrom the backing plate against the side edges between the arms of theelements, the flanges 18 and lugs 19 being so ofsuch height as comparedwith the thickness of the elements as to extend beyond the tractionsurfaces of such elements (Fi re 1 '3). The angular edges of flanges 18and ugs effectively prevent skidding in any direc- The cleats 16 in-thisform of the invention are secured upon the transverse elements 13 byconical headed rivets 20. To render the -c eats readily removable andreplaceable, the elements 13 may be preliminarily apertured to receivethe shankof the rivet and may be slotted on each side of the aperture at21, .21 so that the head of the rivet may be forced through the apertureto secure the cleat to In Figures 4 and 5, cleats 22, similar to cleats16, are removably secured on the transverse elements 13 by cotter pins23 inserted through apertures in flanges 24, 24.

Other means ior securing cleats, such as 16, in place may be provided.For example, in Fi ures 6 and 7, cleats are provided with anges 26, 26having'lug's 27, 27 there- 5 on adapted to project over the arms ofcross member 13 and lugs-28, 28 are formed with portions 29 originallyformed to extend outwardly therefrom and adapted to be bent down overthe central portion of element 13. m In this construction the cleat maybe applied by first flexing the elements 13 so as to slip their forwardand rear edges under lugs 27 and then bendin down the portions29 overthe side edges 0 the elements.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a form of the invention in which cleats 30,in the form of conical headed rivets are secured in the central portionand arms of elements 13. These may be secured in the center of non- 20skid rubber projections 13*, 13 formed on elements 13.

In all forms of the invention the rubber and fabric elements absorb thedriving strains and stresses while the cleats aflordthede- ,25 siredsafe traction. These cleats are accordingly made of metal of a highdegree of hardness such as pressed steel.

Modifications of the invention other than those disclosed herein mayberesorted to so without de arting from the spirit thereof or the scope othe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A traction device for Vehicle Wheels comprising an element adaptedto, extend an element adapted to extend comprising an element adapted toextend transversely about a tire, said element being of flexible,resilient, non-metallic, strain-resisting material constructed in theshape of a GEORGE W. PERKS.

of flexible, resilient, non-metallic, strain-resisting material, a metalcleat removably secured on the element, said, cleat comprising a backingplate and projections on the plate fitting about the element andextending beyond the traction surfaces of the element, and means forremovably securing said cleat on the element.

3. Atraction device including'traction elements adapted to be securedabout a tire on a wheel, said elements being of flexible, nonmetallic,strain-resisting material formed in cross shape, and hard metal cleatssecured thereto andhaving angular projections thereon extending betweenthe arms of the elements beyond the traction surface of said elements. r

'1 4. traction device. for vehicle wheels

